166 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



anything of special value in this class of property. There ave many instances 

 where persons have lost the most valuable articles, even large sums of money, 

 from supposing that if such things were placed in securely bound trunks or boxes 

 they would be perfectly safe. There are cases where iron-bound trunks and even 

 iron chests (not the regular merchant's safe) especially made to secure valuable 

 articles, have been crushed or torn to pieces and the contents scattered to the 

 winds. You might consider it advisable to purchase a heavy merchant's safe in 

 which to lock your valuables. I would not advise you to the contrary, although 

 it is a costly expenditure. It might resist the force of the wind to the extent that it 

 would not be broken open, but if the tornado cloud possesses sufficient power 

 (which it does)to remove loaded railroad cars from the track or overturn huge 

 locomotives weighing tons, it will be seen that your safe will not very likely re- 

 main in its original position throughout the storm. Safes are not safe in a tornado. 

 They may cost you several hundred dollars and even then you must prepare the 

 "dug-out" for your family. Why not expend this money or that portion of it 

 which is found necessary, in preparing not only a secure refuge for your family but 

 sufficient room for your valuables? This " dug-out " need not prove a worthless 

 investment even though you do not experience a tornado. On the principle alone 

 that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," the outlay cannot be 

 considered a failure. It may be used for various purposes as an out-door cellar. 

 If it prove the means of saving a life once in five years (and that, perhaps, your 

 own) you would hardly regret the expenditure. 



There is still another kind of underground protection which can be prepared 

 to advantage if you are provided with a cellar, either under your house or store. 

 Having the cellar, cut an opening (say six feet high and four feet wide) into the wes 

 wall. Carry the excavation to such an extent underground as to provide suffi- 

 cient room for your family and valuable personal effects. The roof of this cellar- 

 cave should be composed of at least three feet (in depth) of the undisturbed sur- 

 face earth, and supported from beneath by heavy timbers. In every way it 

 should be made as secure as the " dug-out." The provisions for ventilation may 

 be made through the roof or entrance door, but in either case well protected by 

 iron grating. 



Protection in Cases of Emergency. — In the event that you are not pos- 

 sessed of the dug-out or cellar-cave your best plan is to move from your house or 

 wherever you may be at the instant stationed, as directed in regard to the various 

 motions of the tornado cloud. If not able to benefit by these directions retreat 

 instantly to your cellar and place yourself, face forward, against the west wall. 

 This is the best position in any cellar. If, for any reason you cannot get to the 

 west wall take your position (the next best) face forward against the south wall, 

 but as near the southwest corner as possible. In these positions the building, if 

 removed from the foundation, will always be carried above and over you, or if 

 torn to pieces, the debris will be instantly removed to the eastward. Under no 

 circumstances, whether in a building or a cellar, ever take a position in a northeast 

 room, in a northeast corner, in an east room or against an east wall. Remember 



